Chapter 27 — Just a normal dinner? Are you serious!?

Skylar stands in front of Nathan's room, arms hanging by her sides, hesitating for a second. She clears her throat—once, then again—before trying to force the most casual tone she can muster into her voice: "Ahem… So, will you come to our room for dinner? As a… celebration, maybe?"

The words barely leave her mouth when her brain belatedly catches up half a beat too late: Wait… celebrate what exactly? Her eyelid twitches slightly: Oh well! As long as he doesn't ask for specifics!

Nathan forces a polite smile and waves her off: "Uh… thanks, but I've already eaten. You two go ahead."

Skylar squints at him. Her eyes are sharp like a microscope focusing on a bug.

Nathan "wipes" non-existent sweat off his forehead, eyes darting away uncomfortably.

She crosses her arms and glares at him like reading out an indictment.

"You're lying."

"Huh… What?"

"You're lying," she repeats calmly, propping her chin on her hand: "Let me think…"

Crap! —  Nathan groans inwardly. He has a bad feeling he won't make it out of this alive.

Suddenly, Skylar snaps her fingers. Her expression shifts instantly from clueless to full-on murder mode.

"Got it! That arrogant young master must be forbidding you from eating with us! Unforgivable! Just wait—I'll get justice for you!"

She spins around, rolling up her sleeves like she's about to enter a boxing ring.

"Wait a sec!" Nathan panics and grabs her arm: "Little Sky… I'm really full! Super full! No need to eat more!"

Skylar yanks her arm back, her eyes still blazing: "Let go! I'm going to deal with him!"

Their struggle goes on for five tense minutes, like a scene from an action movie.

Finally, Skylar storms over to room 568 and kicks the door open like a hurricane.

"Where's Jiang? You get out here RIGHT NOW!!!"

Julian emerges from the bathroom, a towel draped over his neck, his black hair still dripping water down his perfectly straight nose. Skylar freezes for a second: How can someone look this good… But she quickly clenches her fists. No time to be soft now.

Julian looks up, frowning: "What?"

"You don't let Nathan come eat, do you? He's clearly starving!"

Julian turns away, brushing past her, heading for the door. But as he passes Nathan, still frozen in place, his eyes flash like bullets at his bodyguard: How does this girl find out?! Weak! SALARY DEDUCTION!

Nathan shudders under the young master's piercing gaze: Master… please have mercy. Her observational skills are terrifying. It's not my fault…

Julian turns away again, his face stiff like a kid caught red-handed. But his eyes radiate a silent message: Not my problem! You handle it!

Skylar catches the shady exchange, narrows her eyes at Julian, and speaks with blade-like sharpness: "Where exactly are your eyes looking?"

Julian freezes. A bead of sweat rolls from his forehead down his neck: "Uh… I-I really don't know what you're talking about. He says that on his own."

Skylar glares and steps forward: "Really? Got proof?"

Julian blanks for a second, then smirks like he's grabbed a lifeline: "Then do you have proof I forbid him from eating?"

Skylar nods without hesitation. She points to Nathan in the doorway, then at Julian. Then jabs her two fingers together: "You're his OWNER!"

Julian is stunned.

Skylar places her hands on her hips: "Or are you just not brave enough to admit what you did?"

Julian grabs his phone from the table, his face clearly annoyed, but hands it over: "Check all you want!"

Nathan, standing outside, just wants to disappear.

Master… maybe it's time you learn immunity against provocation. Sigh…

Julian shoots him a confident glance: Relax. I come prepared.

Five minutes pass.

Skylar scrolls through Julian's phone like a seasoned detective. Suddenly, her finger stops.

"Aha…"

She sneers, glaring at Julian like a hitman: "So you delete messages, huh? Think I won't know? I can still recover them!"

Nathan outside has enough tears inside to flood the Pacific Ocean: Dear Master… where's that 'preparation' you mention?

Julian sighs: Guess I've been found out.

Nathan slumps his head against the wall: Sigh… I'm so tired of this young master…

Julian glances at him, eyes sparkling with "brotherhood": Hang in there, comrade…

Before he can recover, Julian is sucked into the second wave.

Skylar turns to Nathan, her tone like a teacher possessed by "Ms. Sunny": "And you! How can you obey him so easily? Be a man! Fight for your rights!"

Nathan stands frozen. A second later, he lets out a bitter laugh: Of course I want to! You think I can smell the delicious food from your room and not want some? I'm starving over here! But… the guy who decides my paycheck is standing right there…

In the end, Nathan just sighs and gives a weary smile: "Yeah… I'll try next time…"

No one knows whether Skylar even hears him. She already dashes forward and grabs his arm like catching a criminal red-handed.

"You're not getting away!" – she scowls playfully – "Now get back to the table properly!"

Nathan tilts his head, instinctively trying to pull back—but before he can retreat, she yanks harder, making him stumble a few steps before giving in and letting her drag him.

Julian stands nearby, still wearing his usual cold expression, but the corners of his mouth twitch. It's hard to tell if he's holding back laughter or plotting revenge.

All three of them head back to the table. The food isn't cold yet, but the air is… boiling hot.

A dinner that seems ordinary suddenly becomes the birthplace of absurd chaos—and perhaps the beginning of a whirlwind of unforgettable days to come.